Police Academy goes digital with new online testing platform

The Guyana Police Force has taken a significant leap into the digital age with the launch of a groundbreaking Online Testing System at its academy, marking a transformation in how police recruits will now be assessed and trained for the challenges of modern law enforcement.

The innovative virtual learning environment, developed by a dedicated team led by Assistant Superintendent Gladwin Hanover, alongside Inspector Jason McAlmont, Corporal Tony Dindial, and Corporal Reon Venture, represents a paradigm shift from traditional paper-based examinations to a more convenient digital assessment platform.

Under the strategic leadership of its Director, Woman Senior Superintendent Sonia Herbert, the Guyana Police Force Academy has embraced technology to enhance the quality and efficiency of recruit training. This new system will allow recruits to complete module examinations through a secure online platform, bringing unprecedented levels of efficiency, transparency, and accountability to the assessment process.

According to her, this platform is more than an upgrade in technology; it represents a shift in training future policemen/women for the evolving digital landscape and the complexities that it brings for law enforcement personnel in Guyana.

“This is more than just a technological upgrade – it’s a fundamental reimagining of how we prepare our officers for the complexities of 21st-century policing,” said Senior Superintendent Herbert. “By digitising our assessment methods, we’re not only modernising our processes but also ensuring our recruits are comfortable with the technology they’ll encounter throughout their careers,” she said.

The Online Testing System offers numerous advantages over traditional assessment methods such as immediate results and feedback, enhanced examination security, data-driven insights and accessibility.

Assistant Superintendent Hanover, the project’s lead developer, emphasised the system’s robust design: “We’ve created a platform that not only meets our current needs but can scale and evolve with emerging technologies and training requirements. The system incorporates multiple question formats, from multiple choice to scenario-based assessments, ensuring comprehensive evaluation of both theoretical knowledge and practical application,” he shared.

Team member Inspector McAlmont added: “The collaborative effort between our team members brought together diverse expertise in education, technology, and law enforcement, resulting in a solution tailored specifically to the unique needs of police training.” The move toward digital assessment reflects the Guyana Police Force’s recognition that modern policing requires technological proficiency.

The successful implementation of this system positions the Guyana Police Force as a regional leader in law enforcement education innovation, and plans are underway to expand the platform to include continuing training for serving officers and specialised training modules for different police units.

Further, the Academy has ambitious plans to implement smart classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards, automated attendance systems, and integrated multimedia capabilities to create a fully immersive learning environment.

The Online Assessment Platform was successfully rolled out on Tuesday at the GPF’s Essequibo Campus, where the first batch of recruits were able to access the Platform to complete their assessment.